Thursday, February 11, 2010

Chris Stirewalt - The end of the era of Congressional dinosaurs Even the staunchest earmark foe had to feel a twinge with the passing of John Murtha. Not just because the congressman's family is pained by the sudden loss of an imposing figure, but because it was another paragraph in the final chapter of an era in American politics. The era of the dinosaurs is ending and the new epoch will be one of great upheaval.

Julie Mason - Biden's new role: Cheerleading, not policy The Obama administration's avuncular No. 2 has evolved -- after a sometimes bumpy first year -- into a classic guy-behind-the-guy. He stays busy but rarely makes news, and he's a trusted presidential confidant -- but not exactly in the inner circle.

Byron York - Poll: Republicans gain on Obama, public welcomes GOP power to block All in all, the poll shows the public growing increasingly confident in the GOP's ability to handle critical issues. The public would not have approved of a Republican check on Obama's power several months ago, when trust in the GOP was at an astonishingly low level. Now, with trust increasing, they want to see the GOP exercise more influence. In that sense, when Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown pledged to be the 41st Republican senator -- that is, to be the lawmaker who could help block some Obama initiatives -- he was speaking for the country as well as his state.

Susan Ferrechio - Once thought extinct, New England Republicans re-emerge When a poll made the startling claim that Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., "may be facing his most difficult re-election campaign in 16 years," the news came as a shock to residents in the Ocean State, where Kennedy has been easily re-elected since taking office in 1995. The poll, conducted by WPRI-12, found that 31 percent of those interviewed would "consider another candidate" and 28 percent would "vote to replace" Kennedy. Only 35 percent said they would vote to give Kennedy a ninth term.

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